Wealth in the Wilderness

           ONJanuary6,at7A.M.,afteratranquilnightpassedinlongitude146degrees15",thetravelerscontinuedtheirjourneyacrossthevastdistrict.Theydirectedtheircoursesteadilytowardtherisingsun,andmadeastraightlineacrosstheplain.Twiceovertheycameuponthetracesofsquattersgoingtowardthenorth,andtheirdifferentfootprintsbecameconfused,andGlenarvan’shorsenolongerleftonthedusttheBlackpointmark,recognizablebyitsdoubleshamrock.

           Theplainwasfurrowedinsomeplacesbyfantasticwindingcreekssurroundedbybox,andwhosewaterswererathertemporarythanpermanent.TheyoriginatedintheslopesoftheBuffaloRanges,achainofmountainsofmoderateheight,theundulatinglineofwhichwasvisibleonthehorizon.Itwasresolvedtocamptherethesamenight.Ayrtongoadedonhisteam,andafterajourneyofthirty-fivemiles,thebullocksarrived,somewhatfatigued.Thetentwaspitchedbeneaththegreattrees,andasnighthaddrawnonsupperwasservedasquicklyaspossible,forallthepartycaredmoreforsleepingthaneating,aftersuchaday’smarch.

           Paganelwhohadthefirstwatchdidnotliedown,butshoulderedhisrifleandwalkedupanddownbeforethecamp,tokeephimselffromgoingtosleep.Inspiteoftheabsenceofthemoon,thenightwasalmostluminouswiththelightofthesouthernconstellations.TheSAVANTamusedhimselfwithreadingthegreatbookofthefirmament,abookwhichisalwaysopen,andfullofinteresttothosewhocanreadit.